Ore-leaching apparatus.



M. C. GODBE.

ORE LEACHINGAPFARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 0:03. 1914.

1,150,263. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEETI- '1 i if 4 4,-

r I Attorneys M. C. GODBE.

ORE LEACHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 3. 1914.

1,150,263. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

\ 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lnyentor Atto rneys M. C. GODBE.

0RE LEACHING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED DEC-3| 19|4.

1,150,263. Y PatentedAug. 17,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Inventor Attorneys MURRAY G. GODBE, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

' ORE-LEACHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed December 3, 1914. Serial No. 875,354. 7

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURRAY C. GODBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Ore-Leaching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism whereby a continuous operation of leaching ores may be effected, one of the objects of the invention being to provide means whereby the ore whilebeing treated, will pass continuously from the delivering mechanism to the discharging mechanism, thus eliminating a large amount of labor which has heretofore been necessary in order to properly leach ores, and, consequently, effecting a considerable saving in the cost of operation as well as increasing the. efficiency of the mechanism- A further object is to provide novel means for handling the solution whereby the well known and eflicient principle of countercurrent leaching may be employed in a continuous process, the barren or strongest solution being applied to the nearly leached or finished ore and, after passing several times through the ore, being finally di-' rected through the fresh ore while being loaded onto the apparatus.

A further object is to provide means for automatically washing the apparatus at the proper point during the operation thereof, thus to prevent the formation of any crust or cake of an impenetrable nature that might be left on the filter subsequent to the removal of the ore.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and 1n the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, witlr out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,a portion of the filter being broken away to show the cellular compartment thereunder. Flg. 2 1s a section on line AB Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the revoluble table, all but a small portion of the filtering material being removed and the slats and partition strips being removed from all but one of the compartments of the table. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the supporting structure and the annular launder or trough adapted to be supported under the peripheral portion of the table. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line CD Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line E,F Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through one side portion of one of the compartments in the table. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the solution distributing boxes. Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section through the spray pipe for use in washing the filtering material. Fig. 10 is an enlarged section through a portion of a modified form of filtering structure;

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates a circular series of supporting wheels mounted upon any suitable structure and provided with grooved peripheries, this series of wheels being surrounded byacircular launder or trough 2 divided, by transverse partitions 3, into separate compartments. Any desired number of these compartments-may be used and in the present'instance eight of them have been illustrated, the same being numbered from 4 to 11 inclusive.

Mounted for rotation about a suitable central bearing 12 is a circular table 13 extending at its periphery over and beyond the trough or launder 2 and provided, upon its lower face, with a concentric circular rail 14 which bears downwardly upon the grooved peripheries of the wheels 1 so that the table is thus steadied during its rotation. This table can be rotated by any suitable mechanism provided for that purpose. For example, a belt 15 may be extended therearound and into engagement with guide pulleys 16; It is to be understood, however, that no importance is attached to the particular means for actuating the table. Furthermore the table can be rotated at any speed desired. In some operations it is deemed desirable to rotate it once in thirty minutes, whereas other operations require that the table rotate but once or twice every twenty-four hours.

Upstandingv from the periphery of the 20 to 27 inclusive.

table 13 is a rim or flange 17 and a ring or circular flange 18 likewise extends upwardly from the table adjacent and concentric with the center thereof so thata circular space is thus provided between the two flanges 17 and 18. This space is divided into nonconnnunicating segmental compartments by partitions 19 which are radially disposed and the number of these compartments equals the numberof compartments within the launder -or trough 2 hereinbefore referred to.

In the drawings the separate compartments have been designated by the numerals The bottom of each of the compartments 20 to 27 inclusive, is inclined outwardly to a drain opening 28 formed in the bottom of the compartment, there being a short drain pipe 29 extending downwardly from each of these openings,

all of these pipes being located directly above and adapted to discharge into the launder or trough 2 during the rotation of the table 13. Each of the compartments on the table contains a series of transversely extending cells formed by erecting parallel strips within the compartment, the said strips being spaced from the bottom of the table 13 and supporting slats 31 the upper faces of which lie in the sameplane with the tops of the partitions 19, These slats and the partitions are adapted to support afiltering medium which extends continuously within the circular space between the flanges 1'7 and 18 and overall of the compartments on the table. This filtering material can be in the form of a fabric, as shown in Figs. 1. to 7 inclusive or, if preferred, the said filtering medium can be made of wood, metal or other likestrip material having apertures therein. in Fig. 1.0 such a filteringmedium has been shown, the apertures being indicated at 33. It will be noted that these apertures increase in area in a downward direction so that should any material pass into the apertures therewill be no danger of the saine choking the ape 'tures. Instead the said material can drop freely through them.

Fixedly mounted in any suitable manner above the revoluble table 13 is a series of radially disposed boxes 34: to 40 inclusive, and a discharging trough rl. T hesc boxes I and the trough bridge the space between the flanges 17 and 1.8 on the table and are located substantially in the same vertical the radial partitions 3 in the planes with The boxes 3% to 39 launder or trough 52.

inclusive are designed to direct the leaching solution onto the contents of the revolving table, while the boxtO constitutes means for directing water onto said contents as hereinafter set forth. The trough t1 has a scraping blade or scoop :Qextending downwardly from one side thereof and through- The compartment 1, of the launder or trough 2-'and which is located under the space between the trough 41 and the, box

. 3t has an outlet pipe ll whereby the contents of the compartment & may be directed into the box 40. Any suitable means, such as an injector 45, may be employed for lifting the liquid within the pipe 44 fromthe compartment 4 to the box 40. Another like connection 46 is provided between the compartment 5 which is located under the space between the trough ll and the box 40, and the box 39. The compartment 6, which is located under the space between the boxes 39 and 40, has a pipe connection 4C7 with the box 3.8 and the compartment 7 which is located beneath the space between boxes 37 and 38, communicates, through a pipe connection l8, with the box 37. This arrangement is followed throughout the extent of the apparatus, the compartment 10 having its outlet connected, by a pipe a9 to the box 3t while the compartment 11 under the space between boxes and 35, has an outlet 50 through which the values are withdrawn 'can be made like elongated hoppers, as

shown in Fig. 8, each hopper having an outlet opening 51 extending throughout the length thereof and provided with a slide valve or closure 52 whereby the size of the opening can be varied so as thus to control the flow of 'tluid through the bottom of the hopper. Obviously various other constructiens might be used'for regulating the discharge of liquid onto the contents of the rotating table.

Radially mounted above the space between the trough -11 and the box 3-l isna trcugh 53 having an outlet opening 5-l extending throughout the length of the bottom thereof and adapted to be partly or entirely closed by a sliding gate or valve 55. A feed screw )6 is mounted for rotation within the trough 53 and by means thereof material to be treated is fed longitudinally within the trough 53 where it will be discharged through the. opening 5i and onto the filtering medium32. A leveling strip 57 is supported at any desired distance from the top surface of the filtering medium and be any material coming into contact therewith,

thus to insure the proper spreading of the material over the filtering medium while said material is being leveled. A spray pipe 58 or the like .is extended between the troughs ll and 53 and-above the filtering mediumand is designed to direct water or other suitable cleansing fluid downwardly onto the filtering medium. 5

In using the present apparatus the table 13, as before stated, is rotated continuously. The ore or other material to be treated is directed into the outer end portion of the trough 53 and is conveyed by the worm or screw 56 longitudinally within the trough so that it will be discharged through the opening 5% and onto the filtering medium 32. As this material comes against the leveling strip'57, it will be spread out and the compartment 8. The solution in combrought to a predetermined level upon the filtering medium.

The barren or strong solution used in the treatment of the ore is first directed into the box 39 in any suitable manner, as through a supply pipe 58 and, as the layer of ore on the table is brought slowly under the box 39, the strong solution escaping from the box 39 flows onto the ore and thus displaces the solution previously discharged oi'ito the ore and which displaced solution is thus drained into the compartment 6 of the launder. From this compartment the said drained solution is elevated through the pipe 47 to the box 38 where it is directed onto the ore, thereby displacing the weaker solution contained within the ore and which is drained into the compartment 7. The solution in compa'rtment 7 is elevated to box 37 and drained onto the ore, thus displacing the weaker solution contained in the ore and which displaced solution drains into partment 8. is elevated to the box 36 and onto the ore, the solution displaced at this point draining into the compartment 9 from which it is conveyed to the box 35. The solution displaced at this point drains into the compartment 10 and is elevated to the box 3i, the solution at this. point being in its weakest condition and being discharged onto the ore just after it leaves the leveling strip 57.

-The strong or barren solution absorbed by the ore while passing under the box 39 is displaced, while passing under the box 40, bv water which is discharged from sa1d b ox aiid which is distributed in such quantit es as to completely saturate the ore, the displaced solution draining into the compartment 5' in the launder from which 1t'1s returned to the box 39 where, with an added amount of solution of the first strength, ity

is again sprayed onto the ore passing thereunder, thus displacing the solution which had been discharged onto the ore from the box 38. This operation is followed throughout the extent of the apparatus, it being ob vious therefore that the ore, where first acted upon in the apparatus, is saturated with the weakest solution, discharged from the box 34 and which solution has already passed back and forth throughthe ore through the various other boxes "35 to 39 inclusive. As the ore progresses toward the trough 41 in the direction of the arrow inuFig. l it'is met by solutions of gradually increased strength so that, when the ore reaches the last step in its movement, it is acted upon by the strongest solution in order that the-best results may be obtained. This principle is what is commonly known as counter-current leaching and it has been possible heretofore to use it only in connection with noncontinuous apparatus.- It will be seen in the present case, however, that after the ore has been dumped onto the filtering medium from. the trough 53, it is subjected successlvely to solutions of, gradually increasing strengths and finally, after being acted upon by the strongest or barren solution, is scraped up by the blade or scraper 42 into the trough 41 from which'it is removed by the conveyer 43 and directed into a suitable conveyer such as shown for example at 60 in Fig. 2. 1

\Vater used for displacing the barren solution while the ore is passing under the box 40 is practically completely absorbed by the ore from which the solution has been displaced and is carried out by the ore when removed from the filtering medium by the scraper 42. This water is preferably obtained by the use of a' spray pipe 58 which serves to clean the surface of the filtering medium after the ore has been removed therefrom, thus preventing the formation of cakes or crusts which might interfere with the operation of the machine. This spray after passing through the filtering medium at points between the troughs l1 and 53, drains into the compartment 4: of the-Iaunder and. is lifted therefrom through the pipe 44; into the box 40.

Instead of using a fabric as. a filtering medium, an apertured structure suchas hereinbefore referred to and which has been shown in Fig. 10, can be used. Where such a structure is used, it is designed to coter it with a coarse grade of ore as shownat" eluding a horizontal table mounted for continuous rotation, said table including separate non-communicating compartments and a continuous filtering medium extending over the compartments, means for feeding a layer of material onto the filtering medium, means for subjecting the moving layer of material successively to the action of a counter current of leaching solution, said solution gradually diminishing in strength to- Ward the point where said material is fed onto the table, and means adjacent the feed ing means for removing material from the filtering medium subsequent to the action thereon by the strongest portion of the solution.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a continuously rotating table including non-communicating compartments and a continuou filtering medium extende ing over the compartments, means for discharging material onto the filtering medium to form a layer thereon, means for removing the material from the filtering mediumand discharging it from the machine, means for discharging a leaching solution in its barren or strongest condition onto the material adjacent the point of removal of the material and means for setting up a counter current of said solution and directing it successively onto the material up to a point adj acent the material feeding means.

3. Apparatus of the class described in cluding a continuously rotating table havseparate non-communicating compartment'sand a continuous filtering medium extending over the compartments, a continuous launder located below the table and divided into separate compartments, separate means fixedly mounted above the; table.- it'or directing fluid onto the v contents of the table, means for feeding a layer of material onto the'filtering medium, means adjacent said feeding means for removing the layer of material from the filtering medium, and separate means for maintainingcommunication between the compartments of the launder and the respective fluid distributing means whereby, during the rotation of the table, the material supported thereby is subjected successively to the action of a leaching solution of a strength gradually increasing toward the point of removal of. the material.

4:. "Apparatus of the class described including a table mounted for continuous rotation, said table having a plurality of noncommunicating compartments and a continuous filtering medium extending over the compartments, a continuous launder beneath the table and having separate noncommunicating compartments, means -for draining the contents of the compartments on the table successively into the compartments in the launder, means, for feeding a layer of material onto the filtering medium, means for removing said layer of material from the filtering medium, fiuid distributring boxes fixedly mounted above the table,

and the respective compartments of the launder, and means for maintaining commu; nication between said compartments of the,

launder and the fluid distributing means whereby, during the rotation of the table,

the contents of said table are subjected successively to the action of a leaching fluid gradually increasing in strength toward the point of removal of the material.

5. Apparatus of the class described including a table mounted for continuous r0-' tation, said table having a plurality of noncommunicating compartments and a contween said compartments of the launder and the fluid distributing means whereby, during the rotation of the table, the contents of said table are subjected successively to the action of a leaching fluid gradually increas- I ing in strength toward the point of removal of the material, and means for Washing the filtering material at a point between the re- ,moving'means and the feeding means.

6. Apparatus of the class described including a table mounted for continuous rotation, said table having a plurality of noncommunicating compartments and a continuous filtering medium extending over the compartments, a continuouslaunder beneath the .table and having separate non-communicating. compartments, means for draining the contents of the compartments on the table successively into the compartments in the launder, means for. feeding a layer of material onto the filtering medium, means for removing said layer of material from the filtering medium, fluid distributing boxes fixedly mounted above the table and the respective compartments of the launder, means for maintaining communication between said compartments of the launder and the fluid distributing means whereby, during the rotation of the table, the contents of said table are subjected successively to the action of a leaching fluidgradually increasing in strength toward the point of removal of the material, means for Washing the filtering material at a point between the re- In testimony that I claim the foregeing as moving means and the feeding means, and my own, I have hereto-afiixed my signature nieans for utilizing the washing fluid for in the presence of two Witnesses.

thsplacing leaching fluid of the first strength MURRAY C. GODBE. 5 {Ia-om the material and saturating said mate Witnesses:

rial atits point of removal from the appa- IVY E. SIMPSON,

PHILOMENA A. ROOKELLI. 

